Puzzle assembly

ABSTRACT

A display puzzle and method for marketing a product using the display puzzle is provided and includes selecting at least one graphic image, dividing the at least one graphic image into a plurality of image portions, disposing at least one of the plurality of image portions on at least one surface of a container and arranging a plurality of the surfaces in a predetermined arrangement to form the at least one graphic image.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to a puzzle assembly and more particularly to a picture puzzle disposed on a container for promoting a product/service.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On a daily basis, consumers of products for all types of industry are bombarded with thousands of advertisements promoting product purchase and/or consumption. As a result, marketers of these products have to find new and innovative ways to capture the attention of their target audience. One way innovative way to capture the attention of a target audience is to generate product recognition by repeatedly exposing the target audience to product labels, catch phrases and/or statistics. For example, for many years the Coca-Cola Company repeatedly exposed consumers to the catch phrase “It's the Real Thing®”, thus allowing the catch phrase to develop secondary meaning and recognition with the Coca-Cola Company. Another example involves the McDonald's Corporations use of the “golden arches”, which have become recognizable around the world as being symbolic of McDonald's restaurants.

Other innovative ways to capture the attention of a target audience involve the use of contests or product giveaways. For example, McDonald's promoted their products by sponsoring a game that used the theme of the Monopoly® board game, where a game card identifying a Monopoly® property was distributed to the consumer for each purchase made. The consumers collect their game cards and when they collected certain combinations of game cards, they were awarded prizes. Unfortunately however, the cost of generating and distributing these types of marketing materials, i.e. game pieces, can be expensive and maybe even cost prohibited depending upon the size of the company and the extent of the marketing campaign. Moreover, the longer a marketing method is used, the less effective it tends to be. As such, methods for marketing products and services tend to be a very dynamic area that constantly requires new and increasingly innovative techniques and campaigns which typically require expensive marketing consultants. In fact, the cost of developing marketing ideas and generating marketing materials contributes to the rising cost of consumer products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A display puzzle is provided, wherein the display puzzle includes a plurality of puzzle support structures, wherein each of the plurality of puzzle support structures includes at least one structure side portion. A puzzle image is also provided, wherein the puzzle image is divided into a plurality of image portions and wherein at least one of the plurality of image portions is associated with at least one of the plurality of puzzle support structures to be disposed on the at least one structure side portion, such that when a plurality of the structure side portions are disposed adjacent each other, the plurality of image portions form the puzzle image.

A method for marketing a product using a display puzzle is also provided, wherein the method includes selecting at least one graphic image, dividing the at least one graphic image into a plurality of image portions, disposing at least one of the plurality of image portions on at least one surface of a container and arranging a plurality of the surfaces in a predetermined arrangement to form the at least one graphic image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a method for marketing a product using a graphic image on a product container;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a product container for implementing the method of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a first embodiment of a graphic image for implementing the method of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the graphic image of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the graphic image of FIG. 3 disposed on the product container of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the graphic image of FIG. 3 disposed on the product container of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a product container for implementing the method of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a second embodiment of a graphic image for implementing the method of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the graphic image of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the graphic image of FIG. 8 disposed on the product container of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the graphic image of FIG. 8 disposed on the product container of FIG. 7

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of a product container for implementing the method of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a front view of a third embodiment of a graphic image for implementing the method of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the graphic image of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a front view of the graphic image of FIG. 13 disposed on the product container of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 16 is a front view of the graphic image of FIG. 13 disposed on the product container of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram illustrating a method 100 for marketing a product using a puzzle assembly is shown and includes selecting a graphic image, as shown in operational block 102, and dividing the graphic image into a plurality of image portions, as shown in operational block 104. Each of the image portions may then be disposed on a surface of a product container, as shown in operational block 106. As the product containers are sold to consumers, the consumers collect the containers and try to form the original graphic image by disposing the containers next to each other, as shown in operational block 108.

Referring to FIG. 2, a first example illustrating the method 100 for marketing a product is shown with reference to the marketing of a product 200 that is packaged in a product package 202, which in this case is shown as a can. Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a graphic image 204 is selected, as shown in operational block 102, and divided up into a plurality of image portions 206, as shown in operational block 104. For this example, the graphic image 204 was divided up into a first image portion 208, a second image portion 210 and a third image portion 212, as shown in FIG. 4. Each of the image portions 206 may then be printed on the product package 202 such that each product package 202 contains only one image portion 206. This can be seen in FIG. 5, which illustrates a first product package 214 containing the first image portion 208, a second product package 216 containing the second image portion 210 and a third product package 218 containing the third image portion 212. It should be appreciated that each of the image portions 206 may be covered such that the image portions 206 may only be revealed by the consumer following the purchase of the product package 202. The consumer may then collect the product packages 202 having the image portions 206 which, when arranged correctly, form the selected graphic image 204, as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 7, a second example illustrating the method 100 for marketing a product is shown with reference to the marketing of a product 300 that is packaged in a product package 302, which in this case is shown as a box. Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, a graphic image 304 is selected, as shown in operational block 102, and divided up into a plurality of image portions 306, as shown in operational block 104. For this example, the graphic image 304 was divided up into a first image portion 308, a second image portion 310, a third image portion 312, a fourth image portion 314, a fifth image portion 316 and a sixth image portion 318, as shown in FIG. 9. Each of the image portions 306 may then be printed on the product package 302 such that each product package 302 contains only one image portion 306. This can be seen in FIG. 10, which illustrates a first product package 320 containing the first image portion 308, a second product package 322 containing the second image portion 310, a third product package 324 containing the third image portion 312, a fourth product package 326 containing the fourth image portion 314, a fifth product package 328 containing the fifth image portion 316 and a sixth product package 330 containing the sixth image portion 318. The consumer may then collect the product packages 302 having the image portions 306, which when arranged correctly forms the selected graphic image 304, as shown in FIG. 11.

It is contemplated that the method 100 for marketing a product may also include puzzles of greater complexity than that described hereinabove, such as a multidimensional puzzle. For example, Referring to FIG. 12, one type of multi-dimensional puzzle is shown and includes a puzzle on multiple surfaces of a product package 402, wherein the product package 402 includes a first puzzle surface 404 and a second puzzle surface 406. Referring to FIG. 13, a first graphic image 408 and a second graphic image 410 are selected, as shown in operational block 102, and divided up into a plurality of first image portions 412 and second image portions 414, respectively as shown in operational block 104. For example, the first graphic image 408 was divided up into a first image first portion 416, a first image second portion 418 and a first image third portion 420 and the second graphic image 410 is divided up into a second image first portion 422, a second image second portion 424, a second image third portion 426, a second image fourth portion 428, a second image fifth portion 430 and a second image sixth portion 432, as shown in FIG. 14. One of each of the first image portions 412 and the second image portions 414 may then be printed on different surfaces of the product package 402 such that each product package 402 contains at least one surface comprising at least one of the plurality of first image portions 412 and at least one surface comprising at least one of the plurality of the second image portions 414.

This can be seen in FIG. 15, which illustrates a first product package 434 containing the first image third portion 420 and the second image sixth portion 432, a second product package 436 containing the first image first portion 416 and the second image fifth portion 430, a third product package 438 containing the first image first portion 416 and the second image first portion 422, a fourth product package 440 containing the first image second portion 418 and the second image fourth portion 428, a fifth product package 442 containing the first image third portion 420 and the second image third portion 426 and a sixth product package 444 containing the first image second portion 418 and the second image second portion 424. As above, the consumer may then collect the product packages 402 having one or both of the first image portion 412 and the second image portions 414, which when arranged correctly forms at least one of the first graphic image 408 and the second graphic image 410, as shown in FIG. 16. This concept of multi-dimensional puzzle product promotion may be applied for one product package surface or all of the product package surfaces.

It should be appreciated that each of the image portions 206, 306, 412, 414 may be concealed such that the image portions 206, 306, 412, 414 may only be known to the consumer following the purchase of the product package 202, 302, 402. Additionally, the image portion 206, 306, 412, 414 may be printed on an internal and/or external portion of the product package 202, 302, 402 such that the image portion 206, 306, 412, 414 is concealed and/or hidden from view of the consumer until after the product package 202, 302, 402 has been purchase and/or opened.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and/or additions may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. 

1. A display puzzle, comprising: a plurality of puzzle support structures, wherein each of said plurality of puzzle support structures includes at least one structure side portion; and a puzzle image, said puzzle image divided into a plurality of image portions, wherein at least one of said plurality of image portions is associated with at least one of said plurality of puzzle support structures to be disposed on said at least one structure side portion, such that when a plurality of said structure side portions are disposed adjacent each other, said plurality of image portions form said puzzle image.
 2. The display puzzle of claim 1, wherein said at least one structure side portion is at least one of a removable label and a removable container side.
 3. The display puzzle of claim 2, wherein when a plurality of said structure side portions are disposed adjacent each other, said plurality of image portions form said puzzle image separate from said puzzle support structure
 4. The display puzzle of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of structure side portions includes at least one of a structure top portion and a structure bottom portion.
 5. The display puzzle of claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of image portions is associated with at least one of said structure top portion and said structure bottom portion to be disposed on at least one of said structure top portion and said structure bottom portion.
 6. A method for marketing a product using a display puzzle, the method comprising: selecting at least one graphic image; dividing said at least one graphic image into a plurality of image portions; disposing at least one of said plurality of image portions on at least one surface of a container; and arranging a plurality of said surfaces in a predetermined arrangement to form said at least one graphic image.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said container is at least one of a can, a bag and a box.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one surface of a container is removably associated with said container.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least one surface is at least one of a label and a side cover, to allow said at least one graphic image to be formed separate from said container.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one surface is at least one of a structure top portion and a structure bottom portion. 